The Development of Purpose among Marginalized Older Adults: A Resource for Resilient Aging

Contrary to societal presumptions, older adults can show positive adaptation despite facing declines associated with late life (i.e., resilient aging; Wiles et al.,2019). One understudied resource that older adults may use to support their resilience is having a sense of purpose. Drawing on purpose has been shown to positively relate to mental and physical health (Musich et al., 2018). However, there is limited research that has examined how older adults develop purpose, particularly those who experience challenges due to aspects of their identity (i.e., due to marginalization). The current study explores older adults’ life stories to understand how a sense of purpose develops among the older minority population across the lifespan. This study further examines purpose as a tool for resilience that aids in challenges and barriers experienced by marginalized older adults. Recruitment is actively underway to seek older adults aged 60+ whose voices may be less often heard or have faced challenges in their life due to factors that are not limited to race, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, and age (Kanna, 2018). Before the interview process, potential participants are screened using the Orientation-Memory- Concentration test for dementia (i.e., those who do not pass are ineligible). Eligible participants are then scheduled for a virtual study session, including a semi-structured interview and a brief set of surveys. The target sample size is 25 participants. Pilot interviews have revealed that older adults describe helping others as part of their purpose but also as a tool to overcome challenging life events. Upon completion of the interviews, grounded theory analysis will be conducted in order to understand how purpose manifests among older adults who face challenges due to their identity

Plain-to-clear speech video conversion for enhanced intelligibility

Clearly articulated speech, relative to plain-style speech, has been shown to improve intelligibility. We examine if visible speech cues in video only can be systematically modified to enhance clear-speech visual features and improve intelligibility. We extract clear-speech visual features of English words varying in vowels produced by multiple male and female talkers. Via a frame-by-frame image-warping based video generation method with a controllable parameter (displacement factor), we apply the extracted clear-speech visual features to videos of plain speech to synthesize clear speech videos. We evaluate the generated videos using a robust, state of the art AI Lip Reader as well as human intelligibility testing. The contributions of this study are: (1) we successfully extract relevant visual cues for video modifications across speech styles, and have achieved enhanced intelligibility for AI; (2) this work suggests that universal talker-independent clear-speech features may be utilized to modify any talker’s visual speech style; (3) we introduce “displacement factor” as a way of systematically scaling the magnitude of displacement modifications between speech styles; and (4) the high definition generated videos make them ideal candidates for human-centric intelligibility and perceptual training studies

Storage stability of chocolate can be enhanced using locust protein-based film incorporated with \u3cem\u3eE. purpurea\u3c/em\u3e Flower Extract-based Nanoparticles

The study aimed to develop a locust protein (Loct-Prot)-based film to enhance the lipid oxidative and storage stability of chocolate. The E. purpurea flower extract based-nanoparticles (EFNPs) were developed using ultra- sonication (500 W and 20 kHz for 10 min) following a green method of synthesis. The EFPNs were incorporated at different levels [T0 (0%), T1 (1.0%), T2 (1.5%), and T3 (2.0%)] to impart bioactive properties to the Loct-Prot- based films which were used for packaging of white chocolate during 90 days trial. The addition of EFPNs increased (P \u3c 0.05) the density of the Loct-Prot-based film which in turn decreased (P \u3c 0.05) the transmittance (%) and WVTR (water vapour transmission rate, mg/mt2) with increasing levels of addition. While brightness (L*) showed a decrease, redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) increased with increasing concentration of EFPNs. No significant (P \u3e 0.05) effect was recorded on other physicomechanical parameters of the film. The addition of EFPNs (P \u3c 0.05) increased the mean values of all the antioxidant and antimicrobial parameters (total flavonoid and phenolic contents, FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS activities, antioxidant release and inhibitory halos) of the film. The presence of Loct-Prot-based film decreased the lipid (TBARS and free fatty acids) and protein (total carbonyl content) oxidation of the chocolate samples during storage. A significant (P \u3c 0.05) increase was observed in the antioxidant properties [FRAP (μM TE/100 g) and DPPH and ABTS activities (% inhibition)] of the chocolate samples after one month and the sensory and microbial qualities towards the end of the storage. The gastroin- testinal digestion simulation showed a positive impact on the antioxidant properties of the chocolate. Based on our results, Loct-Prot-based film incorporated with EFPNs can be used to enhance the storage stability of chocolate during storage

Investigating the Role of a P(VDF−TrFE) Ferroelectric Separator in Li‐Metal Pouch Cells using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

This study explores the efficacy of employing P(VDF−TrFE), a ferroelectric copolymer, to mitigate the formation of dead lithium in Li-metal anodes when paired with carbonate electrolytes. Employing non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS), self-standing membranes and coatings on polypropylene (PP) separators were prepared, both demonstrating a homogenous cellular pore structure and excellent ionic conductivity. Rigorous evaluation in pouch cell formats, featuring a thin Li-metal anode (50 μm), a high-loading NMC532 cathode (3 mAhcm−2), and a carbonate electrolyte, reveals the superior performance of cells with P(VDF−TrFE)-coated PP separators. Notably, these cells exhibit slower and more consistent capacity fading, as well as the weakest increase in impedance, as evidenced by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) investigations. This work underscores the promising role of P(VDF−TrFE) as a key material for addressing challenges associated with dead lithium, offering valuable insights for advancing Li-metal battery technologies in practical applications

Older adults recall memories of life challenges: the role of sense of purpose in the life story

Late life is still often characterized as a time of loss and decline. The current study moved beyond this view, using both the resilience framework and the life story approach to highlight the rich life experiences of older adults. Doing so created an opportunity to explore perspectives on sense of purpose in life, from the vantage point of old age. The study had two central questions. That is, how have older adults drawn on their sense of purpose across their lives, and what factors led to the development of a sense of purpose? Following guidelines for the consensual qualitative research method (CQR; Hill et al., The Counseling Psychologist, 25(4), 517–572, 1997; Hill & Knox, 2021), in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 older women and men (aged 60 – 100 years) and transcribed for analysis. The CQR method revealed seven domains in the interviews. Three domains were relevant to the first research question, including: overcoming life challenges to pursue purpose, perspective-taking to maintain purpose, and purpose as part of one’s religion. Four domains provided insights on the second research question: life background influencing purpose, shifts in purpose across life, fulfilling purpose across life, and obstacles to pursuing purpose in life. Findings highlighted how older people use sense of purpose as a guide in the face of life’s inevitable challenges. They also revealed the unique life story paths that lead to the development of purpose across individuals’ lifetimes. The implications of maintaining a sense of purpose in life, across the later years, are discussed

Older Adults Share Challenges in Their Life Story: Sense of Purpose as a Resource for Resilience

Maintaining a sense of purpose promotes mental and physical well-being in older adults (Musich et al., 2018). Drawing on one’s sense of purpose is thus important for late-life resilience. How older adults’ sense of purpose manifests in their everyday lives remains understudied. This study used qualitative methods to amplify older adults’ voices regarding purpose and resilience through analysis of their life stories. This study 1) explored what factors contribute to maintaining purpose in older adulthood, and 2) identified how older adults draw on their purpose during major challenges, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eighteen older men and women (Mage = 79.1; including the young-old, old-old, and oldest-old) participated in semi-structured life story interviews that asked about participants’ individual interpretations of purpose in their lives and their experiences navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Thematic analysis was conducted using established methods (Braun & Clarke, 2012). To address the first research question, analyses revealed that older individuals largely maintain their purpose through engaging in acts of service to others, fostering connections with close others, and actively setting and achieving goals. Regarding the second question, older adults described how drawing on purpose through acts of service and connections with others fostered resilience through the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, older adults’ own expressions of their life stories illuminated how they are guided by purpose. Findings demonstrate the functionality of purpose in late life and how purpose can be practically fostered, specifically within the context of universally challenging experiences such as the COVID-19 pandemic

Dataset

The curated set of data used to run the study's analyses, taken from the larger longitudinal NHATs dataset